The Green NW -- Seattle City Council Approves ‘Do Not Mail Registry’ Resolution
,November 24th, 2009
These unsolicited commercial mailings…or more commonly referred to as ‘junk mail’ choke individual residents mail boxes to the tune of 41 pounds a year. The majority of this junk mail, 41% ends up in the landfill unopened.
The production, distribution and disposal of junk mail produces 51 million tons of greenhouse gasses annually…equivalent to 10 million automobiles. The amount of paper required to produce the 105 billion pieces of junk mail distributed in the United States alone requires the annual harvest of approximately 100 million trees. If these trees were left standing they would act as carbon storehouses helping to reduce the effects of global warming.
A Do Not Mail Registry would allow the City of Seattle to reduce burdens on its waste management and recycling programs allowing them to operate more efficiently. This will help the city reach its goals of landfill diversion and zero waste.